Keys to History

Temporarily packed, this room displays Miss Ramsay's wedding presents. A large wedding, traditionally paid for by the bride's father, ensures that the newlyweds' home will be handsomely decorated. While today we might give toasters and microwaves, in 1895 the more popular gifts include vases and glassware, pictures and frames, as well as toilet sets and workboxes for sewing. Included among the more expensive gifts are furniture, silverware, clocks and statuettes. By the end of the century, a consumer culture is entrenched as more and more goods are produced to serve an ever-growing market.